DSM (demand-side management) commercial customer acceptance: Volume 1, Program planning insights: Final report. [Demand-side management]

Technical Report · Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1988

OSTI ID:5651631

George, S S; Kirksey, W E; Skelton, J C

To aid utilities in developing effective demand-side management (DSM) programs, the Electric Power Research Institute has undertaken a project (RP2548) to improve and integrate pertinent tools, methods, and data for application to DSM. The research covered by this project included the present investigation into the factors that determine the commercial customer acceptance of DSM programs. Utilities use an extremely diverse set of program options and features to influence customer energy consumption and demand. However, the number of commercial sector DSM programs is still too limited and the characteristics too diverse to allow the development of rigorous, empirical conclusions from existing data regarding the impact of various factors on customer participation. Nevertheless, through the review of market research studies and a survey of over one hundred utility DSM program managers, it was possible to identify several primary factors that significantly influence customer acceptance of DSM programs in the commercial sector. Among these key factors are: understanding and meeting customer needs; customer characteristics; effective communication; internal utility promotion and program management; and external influences. The relative importance of these factors varies among general program categories. For all programs, however, the study concludes that the most important factor affecting program participation is understanding and meeting customer needs. Included among the needs and motivations discussed at length in the report are economics, financing, risk aversion, time management, and comfort. The report uses the insights gained regarding these imprtant influencing factors to evelop guidance for planning more effective DSM programs. 34 refs., 14 figs., 22 tabs.

• Research Organization: XENERGY, Inc., Oakland, CA (USA); Battelle Columbus Div., OH (USA)
• OSTI ID: 5651631
• Report Number(s): EPRI-EM-5633-Vol.1; ON: TI88920187
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
29 ENERGY PLANNING
POLICY AND ECONOMY
COMMERCIAL SECTOR
ENERGY CONSUMPTION
ENERGY MANAGEMENT
ELECTRIC UTILITIES
LOAD MANAGEMENT
DEMAND
ECONOMICS
FINANCING
MARKETING
PLANNING
SURVEYS
MANAGEMENT
PUBLIC UTILITIES
320300* - Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization- Industrial & Agricultural Processes
296000 - Energy Planning & Policy- Electric Power